The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

"Father, Radulf isn’t the one who committed such a crime. I have confirmed it myself," Leon informed Phillipe, who was pacing restlessly in the hall.

"Then, who could do this? How could the palace security be so poor?" Phillipe yelled at his son.

"Father, we are looking into it. Please stay calm," Leon said in a humble tone.

"How am I supposed to stay calm? I could have been dead," Phillipe said, not showing how scared he was.

Leon furrowed to hear that. It was true that the one who wanted to harm the King was close to him. The question was why he didn’t step into the chamber, which was just a few steps away from him.

"Father, Alfred and I are investigating. We will surely find the lead soon. Please don’t panic," Leon advised.

"Hmm. You may leave," Phillipe said, finally stopping.

"Father, I have something to ask you. If you allow, may I speak?" Leon asked.

"Yes," Phillipe replied.

"Father, why did you punish Zenna?" Leon inquired.

"That worthless child started to use her tongue before me," Phillipe said with annoyance. "She can’t do anything right. I told her to give birth to a son and she started yelling at me. Does she forget who I am?"

"Zenna could have died, Father. The wounds were deep this time," Leon asserted.

"Why do you care so much?" Phillipe questioned as he scrunched his brows.

"Radulf has earned his respect after winning the war. I don’t think it’s wise to punish Zenna like that. The packs may look down upon us," Leon opined.

"Radulf is still beneath my shoe," Phillipe remarked. "What his father did in the past can’t be forgotten. I might have forgiven him, but he can’t rise. That’s why, Leon, we need to make sure Zenna stays in our control. I have been hearing she still hasn’t captured her heart," he muttered, feeling angrier.

Leon was upset to learn that the Alpha King was trying for a son through Zenna. But why? "Father, why do you wish Zenna and Radulf to have a son?"

"Because Radulf is a dominant alpha," Phillipe replied. "The strongest Alpha in the Kingdom. Their son will be strong enough to support us in the future," he said with a smirk.

"I don’t think it will be easy to take away their child, Father. Radulf isn’t easy to defeat. You should have punished him to death the day his family was hung," Leon proclaimed.

Phillipe turned quiet. He couldn’t do that. Radulf was alive because he had yet to fulfill that one duty toward Zenna—to impregnate her.

"You should leave," Phillipe told Leon. He didn’t press his father and bowed to him before leaving.

"They did spend a night together, then why isn’t Zenna pregnant?" Phillipe murmured and clenched his fists hard.

~~~~

Radulf yawned as he finally woke up, but found the entire chamber was empty while scanning from his green eyes. "I can’t feel her scent here. Where did she go?" he murmured.

Getting out of the bed, he put on his slippers and went to find Zenna. "I told her to rest for at least a week," he grumbled under his breath. "Is she with Gregor again? That fool seriously needs to find a mate of his own. Why does he keep hovering around my wife? I get that they’re friends, but this is crossing the line."

His irritation simmered as he moved through the corridor, his sharp hearing catching the faint giggles of a few servants nearby.

Their laughter grated on his nerves, but he chose to ignore it, too preoccupied with thoughts of Zenna and the unwelcome possibility of her being in Gregor’s company.

"Where’s Zenna?" Radulf stopped a servant.

"Luna is outside, My Lord," the servant replied and briefly looked up only to smile a little.

"Outside? Where?" Radulf frowned.

"She has gone out with Miss Nina," the servant answered.

"I see." Radulf walked ahead and finally reached the living room. "Why did she go out? She doesn’t listen to me at all. Why is she so defiant? Can’t she understand a simple thing of taking care of herself? I am going to lock her up once she returns," he murmured with a frustrated sigh.

As he tilted his head back, his nostrils filled with Zenna’s scent. Both he and Black jumped in happiness, but Radulf tried to stay calm.

As Nina and Zenna made their way into the castle, Nina glanced at Zenna and spoke hesitantly. "Thank you for taking me out with you. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d want my company after everything that happened in the past."

Zenna’s expression softened slightly, a flicker of sympathy crossing her face. "It must be lonely for you here. If you can, you should consider going back. I could help you with that. Staying here will only bring you more suffering."

Nina shook her head with resignation. "My father ended the battle with this kingdom by offering me up as a bargaining chip. I doubt I’d be accepted back there anymore."

Zenna sighed and nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. "It’s Radulf’s fault. He shouldn’t have accepted such an—" She abruptly stopped mid-sentence, her body tensing as she sensed an all-too-familiar presence nearby. Her gaze flicked to the living room, where Radulf sat, his sharp eyes fixed on her.

Zenna’s breath hitched as she noticed something unusual. Radulf was seated with his painted face. He didn’t wash what she had drawn.

Before Zenna could speak, a burst of laughter erupted beside her. Nina doubled over, barely able to contain herself. "Radulf, what in the world is wrong with your face?" she choked out between laughs.

Radulf’s brow furrowed as he instinctively raised a hand to his cheek. "What? What are you laughing at?" he demanded with irritation.

Zenna bit her lip to keep from laughing as well, but Nina was already pointing at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Look at yourself in the mirror! Who could have created such a masterpiece on your face? You look like a monkey!" Nina exclaimed, her voice shaking with laughter.

Radulf’s eyes narrowed as realization dawned. The servants’ earlier giggles made sense now—there was definitely something wrong with his face. "I need a mirror!" he bellowed, his sharp gaze darting around the room.

Nina stepped closer as her curiosity piqued. "Oh, wait—there’s writing on your face too," she noted, squinting as she leaned in to read it. "’Bully and liar,’" she recited, her voice dripping with amusement before bursting into laughter again.

"Who did you bully, and who did you lie to?" Nina teased, a mischievous smile on her face. "Looks like someone decided to take revenge in a rather artistic way."

Radulf’s expression darkened as the culprit’s identity became obvious. His sharp instincts left no doubt. Zenna did it to him.

"Everyone in the mansion must’ve seen you like this. Poor you," Nina added mockingly, her voice interrupted by another bout of laughter.

Just then, a servant approached with a trembling hand, offering a small hand mirror. Radulf snatched it without hesitation, his piercing gaze making the poor servant flinch.

Holding up the mirror, he finally saw the full extent of the damage. His reflection revealed exaggerated features that made him resemble a monkey, complete with smudged paint to highlight the effect.

Zenna had outdone herself.

A low chuckle escaped his mouth filled with annoyance. Meanwhile, Nina clutched her stomach. "Oh, my belly and cheeks hurt from laughing so much! Radulf, the mighty alpha, reduced to a monkey! How fitting!"

Around them, the servants who had gathered in the living room were barely containing their amusement, their quiet giggles filling the space. Radulf lowered the mirror, his piercing eyes scanning the room, making the laughter falter.

’Hopefully, now you’ll think twice before coming to my bed uninvited,’ Zenna thought smugly, a victorious smile tugging at her lips as she admired her handiwork from across the room.

Before anyone else could speak, Savio’s booming voice echoed through the living room. "Alpha, why on earth did you paint your face like a monkey?"

The room fell silent for a split second, and then faint giggles erupted again. Radulf’s patience snapped.

"Stay quiet! All of you!" he roared, his voice silencing the laughter immediately. His sharp, green eyes locked onto Zenna.

"You," Radulf growled, "Follow me."